Container structure



Oct. 9, 1962 F. SHANKS CONTAINER STRUCTURE Filed April 2, 1959 INOR George F. Shanks BY fla /KW ATTORNEY Z I" #13 2f 24 Fig.3

Unite This invention relates to a container structure, and it concerns more particularly a container for powdered substances having built-in measuring and dispensing means.

In the marketing of powdered soap, for example, large economy size packages are commonly employed which, because of their size, are diificult to handle. Upon attempting to pour a measured amount of material from such a package, some of the material is likely to be spilled.

An object of this invention is to provide a container for powdered substances having built-in measuring and dispensing means whereby a measured amount of material may be poured directly from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for powered substances having a partition therein defining a measuring compartment within the container, on one side of the partition, adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of material of the type with which the container is filled, the partition having openings therein whereby the compartment is adapted to be filled with material from the container, a sliding valve element, operable exteriorly of the container, adapted to close the openings of the partition, a discharge opening in the container communicating with the compartment, whereby the contents of the compartment may be discharged from the container, a hinged closure normally closing the discharge opening, and an extensible pouring spout formed in part by the hinged closure and movable therewith from a retracted position, in which the pouring spout is retracted within the compartment, to an extended position in which the pouring spout extends outwardly from the discharge opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for powdered substances having a plurality of measuring and dispensing units as described, of dilferent sizes, arranged in side by side relation to each other, whereby a selected amount of material may be dispensed from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure as described in which the container is substantially rectangular and the partition comprises a substantially rectangular planar element arranged diagonally across a corner portion of the container and defining a substantially triangular compartment positioned on one side of the partition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure as described in which the partition has downwardly and inwardly turned side flanges overlying two opposite sides of the compartment, and extending inwardly at right angles thereto, and upwardly inclined end flanges overlying an adjacent side and an adjacent end of the container, the valve element comprising a substantially rectangular planar element disposed immediately below the partition, in juxtaposed relation thereto, and slidably supported at its edges on the side flanges, the valve element being movable longitudinally relative to the partition whereby the openings of the partition are adapted to be opened and closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structure as described in which the openings of the 7 3,057,524 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 partition comprise longitudinally spaced transverse slots, the valve element having slots therein corresponding to the slots of the partition and adapted to register therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a con tainer structure as described in which the valve element has an integral tab on one of its ends extending outwardly through an opening therefor in the adjacent side of the container, whereby the valve element is adapted to be manipulated exteriorly of the container.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container having a pair of measuring and dispensing units embodying the invention incorporated therein, showing the hinged closures in their closed positions.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the hinged closures in their open positions, in which the pouring spouts extend outwardly from the discharge openings, as viewed from below.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view, taken on a median line, showing one of the measuring and dispensing units in the position shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE '4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the measuring and dispensing unit in the position shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the partition and the valve element; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the hinged closures in its open position, with the pouring spout extended, as viewed from above.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a container having built-in measuring and dispensing means embodying the invention, as hereinafter described. The container 1 advantageously may be formed of paper or cardboard, for example, and is substantially rectangular.

The container 1 is shown fragmentarily. The portion of the container l1 shown is a corner portion, including two opposite sides 2 and 3, and a third side 4 and an end 5 whereby the two opposite sides 2 and 3 are connected in spaced apart relation to each other. At least the third side 4 comprises two thicknesses of material, indicated by the numerals 6 and 7.

A pair of measuring and dispensing units, which are designated generally by the numerals 8 and 9, are arranged within the container 1, in side by side relation to each other. The dispensing units 8 and 9 are positioned adjacent the two opposite sides 2 and 3, respectively, of the container 1, and are of different sizes, whereby a selected amount of material may be dispensed from the container 1.

The dispensing units 8 and 9 each include a partition in the container 1, indicated generally by the numeral 10, which comprises a substantially rectangular planar element arranged diagonally across a corner portion of the container 1 and defining a substantially triangular compartment 11 positioned on one side of the partition 10. The compartments 11 of the respective units 8 and 9 are separated from each other by suitable partitions (not shown). 7

' The compartments 11 are each adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of material of the type with which the container 1 is filled. The compartment 11 of the unit 9 is substantially larger than the corresponding compartment 11 of the unit 8.

The partitions 10 each have openings 12 therein whereby the corresponding compartment 11 is adapted to be filled with material from the container 1. A sliding valve element 13, which is operable exteriorly of the container 1, as hereinafter described, is adapted to close the openings 12 of each of the partitions 10.

The partitions 10 each have downwardly and inwardly turned side flanges 14 overlying two opposite sides of the corresponding compartment 11, and extending inwardly at right angles thereto, and upwardly inclined end flanges 15 overlying the adjacent side 4 and the adjacent end 5 of the container 1. The valve elements 13 each comprise a substantially rectangular planar element disposed immediately below the corresponding partition 10, in juxtaposed relation thereto, and slidably supported at its edges on the side flanges 14. The valve elements 13 are movable longitudinally relative to the respective partitions 10 whereby the openings 12 of the partitions 10 are adapted to be opened and closed.

The openings 12 of the partitions 10 comprise longitudinally spaced transverse slots, and the valve elements 13 each have slots 16 therein corresponding to the slots 12 of the corresponding partition 10, and adapted to register therewith.

The valve elements 13 each have an integral tab 17 on one of its ends extending outwardly through openings 18 and 19 provided therefor in the inner and outer thicknesses 6 and 7, respectively, of the adjacent side 4 of the container 1, whereby the valve elements 13 are adapted to be manipulated exteriorly of the container 1.

Discharge openings 20 and 21 are formed in the inner and outer thicknesses 6 and 7, respectively, of the side 4 of the container 1, and communicate with the respective compartments 11, whereby the contents of the compartments 11 may be discharged from the container 1. Hinged closures 22, which are formed by cutting and bending the material of the outer thickness 7 of the side 4, and which coincide with the openings 21 thereof, and are connected to the side 4 at its juncture with the end 5, normally close the discharge openings 20 and 21.

The material of the outer thickness 7 of the side 4 advantageously may be scored to facilitate cutting it along lines defining the openings 21 and the hinged closures 22, as above described, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Extensible pouring spouts 23, which are formed in part by the hinged closures 22, as hereinafter described, are movable therewith from retracted positions, in which the pouring spouts 23 are retracted within the respective compartrnents 11, to extended positions in which the pouring spouts 23 extend outwardly from the discharge openings 20 and 21.

The pouring spouts 23 are formed partly by angularly bent pieces 24, which advantageously may be formed of sheet metal. The pieces 24 have end portions disposed at right angles to their intermediate portions, and have their intermediate portions attached to the inner surfaces of the hinged closures 22, by means of staples 25.

The end portions of the pieces 24, which form the sides of the pouring spouts 23, are adapted to extend into the respective compartments 11, in the closed positions of the hinged closures 22, whereby they yieldably and frictionally engage the sides of the compartments 11 to prevent outward displacement thereof.

Stops 26 are attached to the inner edges of the pieces 24 for abutment against the inner surface of the inner thickness 6 of the side 4, adjacent the upper edges of the openings 20 thereof, to limit pivotal movement of the hinged closures 22 in an outward direction.

The hinged closures 22 extend upwardly above the upper edges of the openings 20, whereby pivotal movement of the hinged closures 22 in an inward direction is limited by abutment of the upper portions of the hinged closures 22 against the inner thickness 6 of the side 4.

Pivotal movement of the hinged closures 22 in an inward direction is limited also by abutment of the inner edges of the pieces 24 against the end 5 of the container 1.

The tabs 17 of the valve elements 13 are bent upwardly at their outer ends, whereby they are adapted to overlie the inner thickness 6 of the side 4 in one of their operating positions. The openings 19, through which the tabs 17 extend, as above described, are formed in portions of the outer thickness 7 of the side 4 which comprise the hinged closures 22. The openings 19 conform to the shape of the upturned outer ends of the tabs 17, and form recesses in the side 4 adapted to receive them, in the closed positions of the hinged closures 22.

The hinged closures 22 have additional thicknesses of material 27 applied to the exterior surfaces thereof, opposite the pieces 24, whereby the staples 25 are covered and the hinged closures 22 are reenforced.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a disposable package for powdered substances, the combination of a rectangular cardboard box and a measuring and dispensing unit therein, the measuring and dispensing unit including a partition extending diagonally across the interior of the box between two opposed parallel side walls and the adjacent end and bottom walls of the box and forming a triangular compartment in one corner of the box, the partition having openings therein whereby the compartment is adapted to be filled with material from the box, a sliding valve means, operable exteriorly of the box and adapted to close the openings of the partition, one wall of the box having therein a discharge opening communicating with the compartment, whereby the contents of the compartment may be discharged from the box, an extensible pouring spout means including a hinged closure pivoted to one wall of the box and normally closing the discharge opening, said spout means being movable from a retracted position, in which the spout means is retracted within the compartment, to an extended position in which the spout means extends outwardly from the discharge opening.

2. In a disposable package for powdered substances, the combination of a rectangular cardboard box and a plurality of measuring and dispensing units, of different sizes, arranged therein in side by side relation to each other, whereby predetermined quantities of material may be selectively dispensed from the box, the measuring and dispensing units including a first partition extending diagonally across the interior of the box between two opposed parallel side walls and the adjacent end and bottom walls of the box and a second vertical partition extending between said first partition and said adjacent end and bottom walls, the two partitions forming two triangular compartments in a corner of the box, the first partition having openings therein whereby the compartments are adapted to be filled with material from the box, a sliding valve means, operable exteriorly of the box, adapted to close the openings of the first partition, one wall of the box having a discharge opening therein communicating with each of the compartments, whereby the content of the compartments may be discharged from the box, extensible pouring spout means including a hinged closure pivoted to said one wall of the box and normally closing each of the discharge openings, said spout means being movable from a retracted position, in which the pouring spout is retracted within the compartments, to an extended position in which the pouring spout extends outwardly from the discharge openings.

3. The structure of claim I, the partition having downwardly and inwardly turned side flanges overlying the two opposite sides of the compartment and extending inwardly at right angles thereto, and having upwardly inclined end flanges overlying the adjacent end and the adjacent bottom walls of the box, the valve means comprising a substantially rectangular planar element disposed immediately below the partition, in juxtaposed Wardly through an opening therefor in a side of the box relation thereto, and slidably supported at its edges on the whereby the planar element is adapted to be manipulated side flanges, the planar element being movable longituexteriorly of the box.

dinally relative to the partition whereby the openings of the partition are adapted to be opened and closed, the 5 References Ciied in the file of this P openings of the partition shaped in the form of longitu- UNITED STATES PATENTS dinally spaced transverse slots, the planar element having slots therein corresponding to the slots of the partition 543:423 Guthrie July 231 1895 and adapted to register therewith, and the planar element 2,069,738 Buchen 1937 having an integral tab on one of its ends extending out- 10 2,699,280 Saneholtz 1955 

